How singing seals might help us to treat speech disorders
Not just a pretty face, this seal pup may actually be able to provide a new model for treating human speech disorders. At least that's what scientists at the Scottish Oceans Institute (SOI) of the University of St Andrews concluded as they discovered that seals use the same vocal tracts as we do to, um, speak.
Three grey seal pups were monitored from birth to gauge their normal speech repertoire and then taught new sounds, ranging from combinations of vowels to 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. The seals' ability to replicate these sounds was an important step in scientists' understanding of vocal evolution.
'Finding other mammals that use their vocal tract in the same way as us to modify sounds informs us on how vocal skills are influenced by genetics and learning and can ultimately help to develop new methods to study speech disorders' said Professor Vincent Janik, director of the SOI.
Surprisingly, our closest mammals (primates) have very limited capabilities in this area. No 'If You're Happy and You Know It' for them.
The Sussexes split from joint royal charity
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are leaving The Royal Foundation, hoping to establish their own charity by the end of the year.
The Royal Foundation, set up by the princes in 2009, focused on causes that were personal to them, including the armed forces, conservation (a love inspired by Prince Charles' dedication to the British countryside) and mental health. The Duchess of Cambridge joined the board after her wedding in 2011, and the Duchess of Sussex shortly before her wedding in May 2018.
This is the latest change comes as a result of the couples' dividing up their public duties, a division which has included the Sussexes setting up their own instagram, moving to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor and appointing their own head of communications.
The charity released a statement saying that 'these changes are designed to best complement the work and responsibilities of Their Royal Highnesses as they prepare for their future roles, and to better align their charitable activity with their new households'.
The couples were reportedly 'incredibly proud' of their joint work and will continue to work together on important campaigns, such as the Heads Together mental health initiative.
Norfolk Wallaby finally returned home safely after four days on the loose
No, you didn't read that wrong and you're not reading the Australian countryside news by mistake. A wallaby, appropriately named Gorgeous, actually escaped from his paddock on a farm in Ashill.
Owner Charles Bowes has now placed him in a six-foot-tall paddock, as the wily wallaby managed to jump his precious five-foot fence into a meadow during his grand escape. We wonder how long he'll stay this time.
Full story (Thetford and Brandon Times)
On this day...
'Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves'
-Queen Victoria
...in 1837, Queen Victoria succeeded to the British throne. Her reign of 63 years and seven months was longer than that of any of her predecessors and became the Victorian era, a period of industrial, cultural, political and scientific change within the United Kingdom.
The Royal Highland Show 2019 in pictures
Running from yesterday until Monday, the Royal Highland Show is one of Scotland's most iconic countryside events. The Show, which is held at Ingliston, will see more than 1000 trade exhibitors and 2150 livestock competitors take part in the event.
Weekend weather watch
It finally be time to brush off the barbecue for the 25℃ heatwave... before it all goes wrong again on Sunday.
Can you really cook asparagus in a toaster?
The answer is, of course, no. Or at least, not very well. Luckily, someone's tried it out to be sure.
Find out why in the full story (The Guardian)
And finally...Our dog of the day
Country Life Today: The surprising truth about cows breaking wind
This morning we look at why studying animals' noxious emissions can help us make the world a better place, celebrate
Country Life Today: The astonishingly simple solution to making our canals litter-free and beautiful
Today we look at why our canals have become rivers of plastic, but it needn't be that way; the scrapping
Country Life Today: The billion-year-old fungi that could rewrite the story of evolution
Fungi has been discovered that could change the story of how life evolved; an insider's guide to spotting seals; how
Country Life Today: Why keeping your dog healthy means looking after yourself, and the discarded coin sold for £550k
Today's news round-up looks at how dogs take on our own stress levels, tells the tale of a chance find
Country Life Today: Britain's most popular dog, how birdfeeders changed Britain and getting arrested for pebble-picking
The Kennel Club have released their latest stats on dog registration; the RHS are warning about a potential new garden
Country Life Today: How puppy dog eyes are the finest evolutionary trick of man's best friend
Today, we look at how puppy dog eyes are a touch of evolutionary genius, how new road signs will help
Country Life Today: Has the Loch Ness monster given the game away by urinating in the water?
We take a look at the latest evidence that something extraordinary lurks in Loch Ness, breathe a sigh of relief
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Nature and nurture in the gardens of Bramham ParkTim Richardson looks at the innovative and superbly maintained 18th-century landscape garden of Bramham Park in West Yorkshire, home of Nick and Rachel Lane Fox. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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If the future of Ferrari is electric vehicles, then it is our future tooIt's widely believed that Ferrari will unveil its first electric car this year. It's the signal that the internal combustion era is coming to an end.
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The brilliant tractor tribute to the NHS from a group of Warwickshire farmersPeople around Britain have been paying tribute to the efforts of our NHS workers at the time of the coronavirus pandemic — but few have been as creative and clever as this one.
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London's iconic red bus at risk and 6,000 year old chewing gum gives clues into our DNA historyCuts to industry subsidies and an increase in fares has left bus use at its lowest point ever, while DNA extracted from ancient 'chewing gum' allows scientists to decipher the genetic code of a Stone Age woman.
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90-million-year-old 'swimming dinosaur' skeleton found by dogs out walking in Somerset, and the nonchalant moths who don't bother fleeing enemiesA superbly intact dinosaur skeleton — described as being 'museum quality' — has been discovered on a beach in Somerset.
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Battle to ban 4x4s from the idyllic Lake District spot bequeathed by Beatrix Potter, eagle fights octopus and the 'snail's pace' climate talksThis morning we look at Little Langdale's fight for peace, reflect on the climate change talks in Madrid and discover the soundtrack for Brexit.
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Country Life Today: How Greta Thunberg shifted the dial on climate change — and the backlash shows just how muchThis morning we ponder whether Greta Thunberg is the Joan of Arc for the environmental movement, look at a key election — one from 19 years ago — and ponder the marvel of 'dad tidying'.
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Country Life Today: Great news for those who love our great country pubs — the years of decline are overThere is a great sign of health in the pub industry, we look back at Edward VIII's abdication message and fret about Greenland's melting ice.
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Country Life Today: Spain accused of being 'a deplorable choice' for UN climate conferenceA no-holds-barred assault on the Spanish fishing industry, Banksy raising awareness of the homeless and the woes of the Christmas jumper are in today's news round-up.
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Country Life Today: 'This is perhaps the ultimate wake-up call from the uncontrolled experiment humanity is unleashing on the world’s oceans'In today's round up, we examine why oxygen loss is putting oceans at risk, discover that action to cut air pollution brings almost immediate benefits to human health and find out which bird's arrival marks the start of winter in Gloucestershire.
